Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Jane Henderson is a pioneering researcher in the emerging field of bio-robotic interaction, best known for her groundbreaking work on automatic flock control and animal-machine systems. Her most influential contribution is the Robot Sheepdog Project, which demonstrated the first-ever robotic system capable of gathering and maneuvering a flock of ducks to a specified goal by exploiting and controlling animal behavior. This work, detailed in her highly cited paper "Experiments in automatic flock control" (204 citations), introduced a potential-field model for flocking that remains foundational in the field. Henderson's research bridges robotics, ethology, and animal behavior, with key studies such as "Behaviour of domestic ducks exposed to mobile predator stimuli" (11 citations) and "Threat assessment by domestic ducklings using visual signals" (10 citations) exploring how animals perceive and respond to robotic stimuli. Her work has profound implications for autonomous herding, wildlife management, and human-animal interaction technologies. By demonstrating that robots can effectively influence animal groups, Henderson has opened new avenues for non-invasive animal control and laid the groundwork for future innovations in bio-inspired robotics.